Ferrari

Ferrari is recalling 1,248 of its Italia models after fires broke out in several of the luxury vehicles, including one in Southern California. The first wreck and fire in the United States was reported Aug. 18 in Costa Mesa. The Italian carmaker said that an adhesive is likely the cause of the fires, which can melt due to overheating and ignite flames. The Ferrari Italia supercars sell for $253,000 and can go from zero to 60 mph in just over three seconds, according to car enthusiasts.

Police have identified 18-year-old Luicci Nader of Huntington Beach as the driver of the Ferrari that crashed on East Coast Highway near Jamboree Road on Dec. 24. Nader, who remains in critical condition at Western Medical Center in Santa Ana and is unable to speak, was driving the sports car west on East Coast Highway with his relative, Ralph Abinader, 24, in the passenger seat about 5:12 p.m. Police said the Ferrari, a gray 2008 F-430 Spider,...

. FOR THE RECORD: A Dec. 25 article about a fatal crash involving a Ferrari contained wrong information. The Ferrari?s passenger was killed, not its driver.. One driver was killed and three people were injured in a fiery Christmas Eve crash on East Coast Highway in Newport Beach, authorities said. About 5:12 p.m., a westbound Ferrari lost control along East Coast Highway, near Jamboree Road, jumping the median and smashing head-on into a tow truck, police said, citing an initial investigation.

-- Story by Lolita Harper, photo by HE IS Dealing Italian stallions SELLING THEMSELVES The sleek lines of the handmade Italian automobiles, combined with a passion for design and technology, first attracted Josh Zenor to his job as a Ferrari salesman. Zenor, 28, has worked at Ferrari of Orange County on Baker Street in Costa Mesa for the past three years -- since the dealership opened. His job requires only some work, he said, as most of the cars sell themselves.

The family of a 24-year-old man who died in a fiery Christmas Eve crash of a Ferrari on Pacific Coast Highway has filed a $5-million wrongful death claim against the city of Newport Beach. The victim's 18-year-old cousin was at the wheel of the luxury sports car. Members of the Abinader family of Huntington Beach allege that Newport Beach rescue workers did not respond fast enough to the scene where their eldest son and brother, Ralph Abinader, died shortly after dusk, according to claims filed recently against the city.

Charles “Mask” Lewis, a Huntington Beach man and co-founder of clothing label TapouT, popular among mixed-martial arts fans, was identified as the driver of a Ferrari involved in what authorities say appears to be a high-speed fatal crash this morning in Newport Beach that left the car cracked in half. Representatives from TapouT released this statement: “It is with heavy hearts and great sadness that we must regretfully confirm the passing of our beloved friend, brother and co-founder Charles “Mask” Lewis following a car accident that occurred last night.

Ralph Abinader was killed Thursday evening after the driver of the Ferrari he rode in crashed into a tow truck on Pacific Coast Highway in Newport Beach. The driver, whose name has not been released, was going westbound on Pacific Coast Highway, near Jamboree Road, in a Ferrari at an excessive rate of speed when he jumped the center divider and crashed head-on into the tow truck that was driving eastbound, said Newport Beach Sgt. Steve Burdette. The Ferrari split into two pieces and caught fire.

In the weeks following TapouT founder Charles “Mask” Lewis’ death in a Newport Beach car wreck, his company has been inundated with people wishing to say one last goodbye at his memorial next week. Organizers said the memorial service, scheduled for 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Crystal Cathedral, 12141 Lewis St. in Garden Grove, will be public and they expect thousands to show. The theme of the memorial will be “Simply Believe: A Celebration of Charles ‘Mask’ Lewis Jr.” Lewis was killed in the early hours of March 11 when his Ferrari lost control on Jamboree Road north of Eastbluff Drive and slammed into a light pole, shattering the car in two. A woman in the car with Lewis suffered non-life threatening injuries.

Charles “Mask” Lewis Jr. had no drugs or alcohol in his system March 11 when his Ferrari collided with a Porsche on Jamboree Road in Newport Beach and sent his car slamming into a light pole, killing him, the Orange County coroner said Thursday. Many have speculated Lewis, a 45-year-old Huntington Beach native and founder of TapouT clothing, was racing Costa Mesa resident Jeffrey Kirby, 51, on Jamboree Road about 1 a.m. March 11 when Kirby’s car allegedly hit Lewis’ and sent it careening off the road.

Ferrari is recalling 1,248 of its Italia models after fires broke out in several of the luxury vehicles, including one in Southern California. The first wreck and fire in the United States was reported Aug. 18 in Costa Mesa. The Italian carmaker said that an adhesive is likely the cause of the fires, which can melt due to overheating and ignite flames. The Ferrari Italia supercars sell for $253,000 and can go from zero to 60 mph in just over three seconds, according to car enthusiasts.

The family of a 24-year-old man who died in a fiery Christmas Eve crash of a Ferrari on Pacific Coast Highway has filed a $5-million wrongful death claim against the city of Newport Beach. The victim's 18-year-old cousin was at the wheel of the luxury sports car. Members of the Abinader family of Huntington Beach allege that Newport Beach rescue workers did not respond fast enough to the scene where their eldest son and brother, Ralph Abinader, died shortly after dusk, according to claims filed recently against the city.

Police have identified 18-year-old Luicci Nader of Huntington Beach as the driver of the Ferrari that crashed on East Coast Highway near Jamboree Road on Dec. 24. Nader, who remains in critical condition at Western Medical Center in Santa Ana and is unable to speak, was driving the sports car west on East Coast Highway with his relative, Ralph Abinader, 24, in the passenger seat about 5:12 p.m. Police said the Ferrari, a gray 2008 F-430 Spider,...

. FOR THE RECORD: A Dec. 25 article about a fatal crash involving a Ferrari contained wrong information. The Ferrari?s passenger was killed, not its driver.. One driver was killed and three people were injured in a fiery Christmas Eve crash on East Coast Highway in Newport Beach, authorities said. About 5:12 p.m., a westbound Ferrari lost control along East Coast Highway, near Jamboree Road, jumping the median and smashing head-on into a tow truck, police said, citing an initial investigation.

Ralph Abinader was killed Thursday evening after the driver of the Ferrari he rode in crashed into a tow truck on Pacific Coast Highway in Newport Beach. The driver, whose name has not been released, was going westbound on Pacific Coast Highway, near Jamboree Road, in a Ferrari at an excessive rate of speed when he jumped the center divider and crashed head-on into the tow truck that was driving eastbound, said Newport Beach Sgt. Steve Burdette. The Ferrari split into two pieces and caught fire.

Charles “Mask” Lewis Jr. had no drugs or alcohol in his system March 11 when his Ferrari collided with a Porsche on Jamboree Road in Newport Beach and sent his car slamming into a light pole, killing him, the Orange County coroner said Thursday. Many have speculated Lewis, a 45-year-old Huntington Beach native and founder of TapouT clothing, was racing Costa Mesa resident Jeffrey Kirby, 51, on Jamboree Road about 1 a.m. March 11 when Kirby’s car allegedly hit Lewis’ and sent it careening off the road.

In the weeks following TapouT founder Charles “Mask” Lewis’ death in a Newport Beach car wreck, his company has been inundated with people wishing to say one last goodbye at his memorial next week. Organizers said the memorial service, scheduled for 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Crystal Cathedral, 12141 Lewis St. in Garden Grove, will be public and they expect thousands to show. The theme of the memorial will be “Simply Believe: A Celebration of Charles ‘Mask’ Lewis Jr.” Lewis was killed in the early hours of March 11 when his Ferrari lost control on Jamboree Road north of Eastbluff Drive and slammed into a light pole, shattering the car in two. A woman in the car with Lewis suffered non-life threatening injuries.